A chemist set up to serve south Oxford may have to close because of a lack of customers.

Bliep chemist in Abingdon Road, Oxford, opened in January after a nine-month battle to win planning permission.

The news that supermarkets are to reduce drug prices by more than 50 per cent was a further blow to Kirit Patel, who said he was "gutted" when he heard the news.

He said: "I do not think I will survive this climate."

Previously, Mr Patel had an army of faithful customers at his old shop on the corner of Abingdon Road and Kineton Road for more than half a century. He was forced to close the shop after vandals threw eggs at the shop windows, dumped rubbish outside and attempted to break in.

Mr Patel relocated further along Abingdon Road, because the community relied on having a pharmacy in the area.

Planning permission was finally won after south Oxford local councillor Deborah Glass convinced the planning committee the area needed a chemist.

But Mr Patel says trade has been slow to return because, during the nine-month delay, former customers developed new habits of travelling to the city centre or other areas to collect their medicine.

He said: "The long wait meant I have lost custom from many district nurses, who would order drugs and equipment they needed for the elderly and disabled people they care for.

"I had tremendous support from the public - they rang the council asking them to grant permission quickly so I could re-open.

"But now they don't seem to be aware that we are actually open again.

"I need the business back, otherwise the community might lost the service - if we maintain the current level of custom, we may have to close."

South Oxford councillor Deborah Glass said the city council's planning department had a huge backlog, which would explain the delay in planning permission.

She said: "The planning department is hugely overworked and they are addressing the problem now. I can see how customers would end up changing their habits and going to the city centre during those nine months. I would hate to see a local facility die because people don't know it exists.

"With the original shop it was clear it served the community well.

"We really need to see local support return to this chemist.

"South Oxford is not hugely well served by local shops. But this chemist is vital for people who are not able to get into Oxford centre themselves."

**Bliep chemist is located opposite the Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel, Abingdon Road.